Democrats Recapture Galveston Mayor, Make More Advances in Saturday Elections

Former Democratic County Judge Jim Yarbrough is Mayor-Elect of Galveston Island

On Saturday, many municipalities held elections for city governments, water boards, and voted on bonds for school districts. While municipal elections in Texas are officially non-partisan elections, many candidates' partisanship are known by the voters. Two mid-size Texas cities with traditionally Democratic roots saw their Republican incumbents decide not to seek re-election this May and were replaced by more progressive options.

In Galveston, former County Judge Jim Yarbrough won by a comfortable margin. Yarbrough had been elected as a Democrat many times as Galveston County Judge until his defeat in the TEA Party wave of 2010. Incumbent Lewis Rosen, supported by Galveston Conservatives, had decided not to run for a second term. The entire city council of Galveston Island appears to have improved after Saturday's election. Marcey Casey, President of the Galveston County Democrats Club, described the former council make up consisting of a republican mayor, three republican councilors, two democratic councilors, and one independent. The new council, to her understanding, would be led by a democratic mayor and consist of two democratic councilors, two republican councilors, and two independents.

The good news did not end on Galveston Island. Check below the jump to read about the mayoral election in Killeen and the good new about bonds across Texas.In Killeen, incumbent Dan Corbin, who describes himself as “very conservative” decided in November not to run for a second term after winning a mayoral recall election in 2011. Winning Saturday's regular election was Scott Cosper, one of five members of Killeen City Council who were also ousted in a 2011 recall spearheaded by the TEA Party friendly “Killeen Tax Payers for Responsible and Accountable Governance,” a subsidiary of Americans for Prosperity. While it is unclear what Corbin's partisanship is, being on Americans for Prosperity's enemies list is a good place to start. Cosper frequently donated to Democratic Congressman Chet Edwards over the last decade, but he also gave, less frequently, to Republican Congressman John Carter and some Republican PACs. His main opponent, Dick Young, has run for partisan office as a Republican in the past.

Across Texas, several bonds, mainly for for school districts, were voted on. Leading up to 2010 and for a time after, bonds ran into the buzz saw of the anti-spending ideology of the TEA Party and many failed. This year, the opposite appears to have occurred as most bonds passed throughout the state.

In the Austin area fourteen of the sixteen area bonds passed. Failing was a controversial measure for Eanes ISD in Travis County and a street and drainage proposition in Hays County's Wimberley. Five proposals in Williamson County's Leander MUD passed with 100% as only one person voted. Let this be a lesson to those who say your single vote will not matter.

About Author

Joseph was raised in Friendswood, Texas in North Galveston County. He went on to graduate from the University of North Texas with a degree in Political Science. After working for multiple campaigns, Joseph was able to work in the 83rd legislature in Austin in 2013.
While retired from professional campaign work, Joseph enjoys sharing his knowledge of campaign data how to win elections in naturally unfriendly turf with others.
Joseph is an avid archer and enjoys all things geek including Star Wars and DC Comics.